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Monday, September 21, 2015

Overcoming negative emotions is essential for success

Emotions are the most important─ perhaps the only motivating force of the most complex animals, birds and mammals. To understand how emotions regulate our lives, we need to examine the working of the brain. A stimulus forms complex neuronal activation patterns in the cortex, which then can be replayed repeatedly. The appropriate temporal order of the constantly changing cortical projection triggers corresponding motoric activation, experience, and memories. This way past experience informs present behavior and produces far superior response. But beyond the sensory and motoric function, brain oscillations form emotions, the energy balances of the brain. Greater brain frequencies are energy expensive and form negative emotions, which, over time handicap personal and professional success and even cause health problems. Negative emotions are energy states, thus they form according to physical laws.

High brain oscillations are essential for analytic thinking, detailed, focused work, preparation or reaction to immediate danger. However, physical discomfort and aggravation also enhances brain frequencies. These detailed mental projections form a self-centered, insecure view, which prevents an overarching picture and decrease confidence. Distorted, fractured mental pictures limit perceived opportunities. The automatic regulation of the brain energy balances means that emotions control our thoughts and actions. Our emotions may govern our actions today, but our present actions determine our emotions tomorrow. For this reason, there are tried and tested methods that over the long term can change faulty mental operation patterns.

The most ancient technique to achieve lasting mental change is meditation. Meditation and prayer comes from ancient traditions, but generate mental stability just as well in modern setting. It can be practiced alone, but probably it becomes more powerful when performed in a group setting. More contemporary method is setting goals, which lessens the importance and power of negative circumstances. Even in rats, goal-oriented activity improves short term memory. In human subjects, motivation increases mental stability and reduces conflict, thereby enhancing performance. However, negative emotions often lead to worry and anxiety, which prevents goal directed activity. Mental transformation is possible due to positive social environment. The emotional drive to comfort the sufferer is present in two year old children and mammals (through grooming behavior). Such emotional bond is relaxing, leading to health and mental benefits for both the giver and receiver of compassion. In fact it is found that while toxic social connections can kill, positive emotional relationships promote mental and physical health. Neuroimaging data supports these ideas.

Over the long term even practicing just one of the tried methods of mental transformation (positive social connections, goals, meditation, or prayer) lead to mental stability, patience and inner confidence. Positive emotions are associated with lower brain oscillations, which lack details, and allow the confidence of an overarching vision. In the mind unnecessary details are eliminated and the mental focus widens, allowing natural, creative solutions to emerge. These contrasting dynamics emerge through the powerful effects of emotions via automatic mental operation. Calm minds cannot be easily disturbed. Just as energy flows from warmer, to colder matter, emotionally more stable (less irritable) people succeed in spite of challenges. Emotional stability also means the ability to engage, relate to others and situations, and to find inherent solutions. These flexible people adopt to opportunities with ease, even on the trading floor (as recent research shows, traders with positive attitude make more money).